§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the former reserve list of colonels, Royal Marines, was abolished by an Order in Council in order to expedite the promotion of junior officers, and for the purpose of causing an even flow of promotion throughout the corps of Royal Marines; whether he is also aware that at the present time there is a stagnation in the promotion of lieutenant-colonels, majors, and captains of the Royal Marine Artillery; and whether the proposed re-establishment of a reserve list of colonels will apply to that portion of the corps?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKENNA)Under the old arrangement, which was abolished in 1878, a colonel on the reserved list was eligible for promotion to fill a vacancy on the general officers' list, which obviously retarded the promotion of officers on the active list. Under the new arrangement, colonels on 235 the reserve list will not be eligible for promotion to any vacancy on the general officers' list. There will be a reserved colonels' list for both branches of the corps.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONAre we to understand that the fact of this reserve list will not retard in any way the promotion of any of the active officers of either branch of our Marine forces?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is a further question later on the subject.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONIt does not bear on the question.
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is in the name of another hon. Member. I will refer to it later.
§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any officer of the Royal Marine Light Infantry other than Colonel Onslow who, during the next four years, will be benefited by the proposed re-establishment of the reserved list of colonels; and, if so, will he say who?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am unaware that any particular officer will be benefited by the change, which is made for the advantage of the corps as a whole.
§ Sir THOMAS BRAMSDONasked whether the pay of the proposed reserved colonels, Royal Marines, would be at the same rate of £600 a year as when the rank formerly existed, or was it proposed to in-increase that rate; and, if so, by how much?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is no proposal to increase the rate.
Captain FABERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would state what necessity arose for the proposed re-establishment of a list of reserved colonels, Royal Marines, seeing that the existing establishment of senior officers was sufficient for all the requirements of the corps, and that the proposed list of reserved colonels would have no duties to perform; and whether the appointment of a reserved colonel to the post of Deputy-Adjutant-General would retard the promotion of other officers junior to him?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe post of Deputy-Adjutant-General is filled by selection, and it is obviously desirable that the selection should be as wide as possible in the in- 236 terests of the service. The re-establishment of the reserve list of colonels will enable colonels who complete the period of their command as Colonel Commandant before attaining the age for compulsory retirement to remain eligible for selection for the appointment of Deputy-Adjutant-General. The selection of an officer from this list will only retard the promotion of other junior officers to this extent, that there will not be any promotion to the rank of colonel which there is when a colonel on the active list is selected for the post of Deputy-Adjutant-General; but exactly the same thing would happen if the appointment of the Deputy-Adjutant-General were extended after he had served for the full period of five years, or if the Deputy-Adjutant-General is succeeded by another general officer of the same branch of the corps—and it is to be observed that if the appointment is filled by an officer from the other branch of the corps the branch of the vacating Deputy-Adjutant-General suffers a retardation under existing rules.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that the only person at present on that list is Colonel Onslow, and whether the proposed establishment of the reserve list of colonels will not benefit that officer?
§ Mr. McKENNANo. I have already stated that there is no certainty that the establishment of the reserve list will benefit anybody on that list, but it does give the Admiralty a wider selection than it now has.
§ Sir T. BRAMSDONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an impression throughout the Royal Marines that this reserve list has been established for the benefit of one particular individual?
§ Mr. McKENNANo. I am very well aware that there is no such impression throughout the Service. On the contrary, I have had representations made to me denying that any such view is held in the service at the present time.